Fruit-picking device.



No. 703,770. Patented .Iuly I, |902. I. DINGEH.

FRUIT PICKING DEVICE.

(Application med Feb. 24, 1902.) (No Model.)

we Naam: Panslco Puo-murio wAsHwGToN D c NIT-ED STATES;

IsA-of-DINGER, or McKEEs Rocks, PENNsY'LvANIA.

FRUIT-PICKINGnEvlcE. .f

SPECIFICATION' forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 70?,77Qpdatedduly 1,'1902. ApplicationiiledlFebruary Z4, 1902. Serial No. 95,177. (Ne model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that LlsAAoDINGER, a citizen of the United States`ofAmerica,freSiding at McKees Rockshin the county of 'Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented oertain new and useful Improvements in Fruit- Picking Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fruit-pickers, and has for its object theprovision of novel means to provide a receptacle toreceive the fruit, which is suspended to the end of a long pole or rod, said receptacle carrying a spring-actuated cutter that will eifectually sever tthe fruit from the stem.

Another object of the present invention is to sever the fruit in such a mannerlthat the same will be preventedjfrom fallingto the ground and receiving bruises by-such fall thatwould injure the fruit to a great extent.

My invention further aims to provide adevice of this classthat will be` extremely simple in construction, `conveniently handled, and easily operatedg-firthermore, one that will be strong, durable, andl comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

W'ith the above andfother objects inview the invention consists in thenovel combination and arrangementof parts to be herein- Y after more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, in whichp Figure l is a vertical sectional view of my improved fruit-picker, showing the same attached to the upper endof the pole or rod.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the upper portionofthevdevice. Fig. 3 is a similar view ofFig. l, showing the lower portion of the device cutaway-and clearly illustrating the operation of my improved fruit-picker. i

In the drawings the reference-numeral l represents a bag formed of any suitable material. This bag-1 is provided with suitable strengthening-ribs 2, forminga cage. A band 3 is secured to theinterior of the bag near the upper portion'th'ereof. 1 The'upper portion of the bag has'formed therein anopening, and the material onrthe one side 4' issecured to one of the strengthening-ribs which is stationary, said strengtheningribs having a guideway' 5 formed therein adapted to receive a cutter 6, carrying a knife-edge?v 5 This cutter 6 is carried by the movable ribs 8, which are pivotedat 9 .to the'band 3. The yupperend of the bagA-isprovidedwith a separate piece ofmaterial 10, which is secured tothe movable section lOfL and rib 8. Coil-springs 11 are secure'd'at l2 to the rib 8 andatuli to the band 3. Thezmo'vable section l0 lis'also provided at its upper end withaloop l5 to receive the operating-cord 16, passing through eyes 17 18, carried byy one of the ribs. This operating-oord 16 extends downwardly to the operator. A socket 19 is securedl to the lower portion of the bag and strengthening-ribs to receive the pole orl rod 20, said pole or rod 20 carrying a cable 2l, which will permit the pole or rod to be formed in a number of sections in order to lengthen or shorten the pole to accommodate the height of the trees bearing the fruit.

The operationof my improved fruit-picker is as follows: The pole or rod is manipulated so as to bringthe upper portion of the bag into contact with the fruit. The operatingcord is then drawn, thereby opening the movable section l0a and rib 8, carrying the knifeedge. Thefdevic'e will then assume the p0- sition as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The devicejis then adjusted in a manner t0 engage thejstem of the fruit, and by releasing the operating-cord the springs 11 will contract, operating the knife or cutter, which will severithe fruit from the stem and allow it to drop into the bag,orreceptaele. A

The many advantages obtained by the use of my improved pickerwillibe readilyu'apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying-drawings.

:It'will be noted that variouschanges may be made in' the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of myl invention. i

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new,`and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a fruit-picker, the combination of a re' ceptacle formed of strengthening-ribs, a band carried by said ribs extending in a transverse direction thereto, a movable section comprising ribs pivoted to the ends of said band with springs secured to said-ribs and the band, a cutter carried 4 by the movable ribs', yone of said strengthening-ribsl `having a guideway formed therein adapted to'receive said cutter, said movable section adapted to operate downwardlyinto the receptacle and carrying a 1 -loop at its front portion, and a cord engaging I-afx my signature 

